Fashion Me Fabulous

I don't frequently have problems with breakouts. My skin is, thankfully, pretty clear. However, when the occasional zit does choose to pop-up, it likes to do so it obvious places like right between my eyes. Because zits aren't a regular problem, I'm usually not prepared. My full tube of zit cream is always expired (and funky smelling) when I really need it. I got sick of buying $5+ tubes of zit medicine only to throw most of them out, so I happily bought the e.l.f. Zit Zapper for $1 at Target when I found it. I've been using it for a while now, and it's probably the best skin care value I've ever found. Pros: Price. You can't beat $1. At that price you could buy one for home, one for your bag and one for your desk/locker/glove box/etc... Effectiveness. It zapped my zits. Stubborn ones took a couple of days, but a few smaller ones vanished overnight. Gentleness. It was harsh enough on the zits or banish them, but it didn't irritate my sensitive...

As becca wrote about a few weeks ago, sometimes our skin problems are because of our products , not our skin. After years of using over-drying or hyper-oily products, I've begun moving toward skin care products with more natural ingredients*. There are lots of books and websites with recipes for making your own natural face wash or scrub, but honestly I don't have the time for it. If I can't throw it on my face immediately when I stagger into the bathroom, my face isn't getting washed. (Gross, I know.) Lately, I'm in love with the ease of Yes to Cucumber! Face Cleanser Towelettes . They have a light, clean scent and feel like I'm washing with invigorating spring water. Even my husband likes them. But wipes don't get the down and dirty, so once a week I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub . It leaves my skin fresh and glowing. At $5 and $3 respectively, these two products provide a great and inexpensive natural face routine. Here are a few more face washes and scru...

Most people tan in the summer, whether intentionally or secondary to other summer activities*. Not me. I try to stay pale the whole ghastly season. Even if I wanted to brown up a bit, this Irish complexion only does two colors: white or lobster. So I bought a big hat and (when I'm good) I put on moisturizer with sunscreen in it. That's enough for the little bit of time I'm outside during the week, but what about weekends? What about my arms and legs? Most sunscreen is oily and smelly, but Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock doesn't smell or leave your skin filmy. It's available in up to SPF 100. Here are four more sunscreen options to fit your summer: For the athlete: Blue Lizard SPF 30+ Sunscreen - Sport $15 For problem-prone skin: Eltamd UV Clear SPF 46 $25 For the glamour queen: Shiseido SPF 34 foundation, Sephora $26.50 For those who can barely be bothered: Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Swipes for Sensitive Skin $34 *If this is you, you still need...

I am endlessly amazed at the number of products women put on their skin before they even get to makeup. I'm a minimalist when it comes to skincare (and makeup). Soap, moisturizer, eye cream (when I remember it) and a little rubbing alcohol or zit cream for the occasional blemish--that's my entire arsenal. I have to credit some of my minimalist tendencies to excellent genes (thanks Mom & Dad)! But even though I have pretty good skin naturally, I am tempted to fix minor problems with creams, lotions, potions and all sorts of other concoctions. Every time I go to a dermatologist, they come up with a long list of products (that they sell or just had a drug rep promote) for me to start using, stat. I've tried them and never had my skin improve overall. Sure, that cream make my cheeks less dry, but it gave me zits elsewhere. Yeah, that pore strip helped with the blackheads a bit, but it made my skin raw & itchy (I have sensitive skin). Every product seems to have a si...

While towels don't seem like an obvious fashion find, they are an important part of our daily beauty routines. If you have a small bathroom, too few towel racks or too many people sharing a bathroom, it can be a challenge dry towel properly and avoid the musty, wet towel smell. Plus, on a cold winter morning the time between turning off the hot shower and getting dry enough to be warm feels chillingly long. These Quick-drying towels not only do as their name says, but they are also super absorbent so they dry both themselves and you quickly. A friend recently told me about some she received for Christmas and loves that they remain clean smelling since they dry so quickly. They are available for almost any one who makes towels, but since I have a fondness for my Kohl's towels, I've posted their version here. The Apt. 9 Quick-Drying Pima Cotton Textured Towels range in price from $13.99 to $17.99 for wash clothes, hand towels and bath towels

My job makes my hands dry. Winter makes my hands dry. Gold Bond had been fighting the good fight until nail polish remover really pushed my hands to critical. Three fingers cracked! At the recommendation of a friend whose father is mechanic, I tried Corn Huskers Lotion . It's not exactly a bottle you leave out for display, nor will any of your friends be impressed that you use such a trendy product. But if your skin is dry, it will suck this product right in. If your skin isn't so dry, it may feel a little slippy and sticky for a while (but not oily like some lotions). I recommend it for elbows, knees and feet. If your hands are severe, this will do the trick.

Project Design is our own friendly competition where we put together collection of independent designers for you to rate on your very own imaginary runway. We all have the person on our Christmas list, the one who has everything. Over the years you've sent her every gourmet food, every latest gift gimmick and you still rack your brain for something she will use, maybe even need a little so you can offer her a gift as thoughtful as the cards and gifts she sends you. Bath sets always seem like a nice idea, but they also seem like such a cop out. The bath set is the gift you give when you don't know what to give. However, Etsians have an offering of unique soaps so broad you're bound to find one (or several) to fit her personality and surprise her with something she hasn't seen or tried before. (Also, most of these are very affordable so you could easily assemble your own unique mix for a bath kits that is sure to delight.) Candy Cane Cupcake Bath Bomb by CandiedBeauty ...

Of the many things I have to replace from my swiped bag, is Mary Kay's Extra Emollient Night Cream . My container was a tub, perfect for scooping gobs of it onto my dry feet and elbows. When lotion can't save the day, I put on the night cream with gloves for sleeping. It's fantastic for cracked lips as well. In the winter, I've even used it on my chapped nose. For a while I tried straight Vaseline, but this is better. Is $13 a little high for 2.1 oz? Yes, but it's the best stuff for damaged skin I've ever used.

When Paul Newman died, someone wrote "By 70, you have the face you've earned." Grey hairs are coming now, so wrinkles can't be far behind. While I love the idea of earning my face and hope that age graces me with lines from laughter and smiles, the idea of my face changing is a bit overwhelming. (Society pushing the idea that a wrinkle puts one foot in the grave doesn't help.) It will just seem like my face until one day I'm looking at old photos with a whipper-snapper who asks which one in the picture is me. Maybe that will just help refine another laugh line. poll by twiigs.com

My mom is pushing 60 and has great skin, so I've decided, with genetics on my side, to use her skin care product of choice -- Oil of Olay. I used the night cream all through high school and college. A few years ago, I bought the daily moisturizer with SPF15. Last time I was at the store, I thought I'd save a few pennies by buying generic. It smelled and felt greasy, but I thought aside from pleasantries, it couldn't be too different from the real thing. Except in a few weeks time, my skin had turned sallow. My pores were huge, and I was breaking out like a teen before class pictures. My new moisturizer made my skin look my feel horrible! I've since switched back, this time to Olay Total Effects with SPF 15 . It may be nearly $20, by my skin feels so soft and smooth and looks so amazing that I've once again decided to forgo foundation.

The people at Beautyfix.com provided me with free trial membership to test their process for buying beauty products online. While I love to shop online, beauty products have always been something I've purchased from stores. I have a lot of skin sensitivities and allergies so I've always been afraid of not being able to see, smell, and perhaps even try products. Plus, makeup colors can look so different online. I was pleasantly surprised by the Beautyfix.com process. Beautyfix.com offers a selection of products reviewed and chosen by a panel of experts, which includes dermatologists, plastic surgeons, hairstylists, makeup artists, estheticians, beauty editors and bloggers. You start buy taking a short survey to select your skin tone and type, eye color, ethnicity, hair color and type, age and any beauty concerns you may have. From here you can sign up for a membership (which you may cancel at anytime) and you are given recommendations for products that will work best for you. ...

Are you ready for a little over sharing? It's winter, which means my legs are perpetually covered by opaque tights, pants, boots and jeans. My legs will reappear in late March or early April. Mostly, this means I can get a little lazy when it comes to shaving my legs. This isn't to say I go the whole winter without, but I do spend a little less time with my razor. I don't see the point in wasting extra time and shaving gel if my legs are essentially in hibernation. Have you stopped shaving (or shaving as much) for the winter? poll by twiigs.com

Shave gel is one of those products I've occasionally decided I don't actually need to purchase. After all, soap or body wash can be substituted for OK-ish results. However, my skin has become more sensitive with time and I've seen the need for shave gel. I've tried a few different brands (whatever was on sale was usually what I purchased) and they all seemed about the same--until recently. When visiting my mom last, I used her new Skintimate Skin Therapy Lotionized Shave Gel for sensitive skin . Not only did it provide a nice shave, but it also wasn't kidding about being "lotionized." I didn't need to put lotion on my legs after shaving. This stuff was amazing. It seems to run about 30 to 50 cents more than the other shave gels (and it's quite a bit more expensive if you're been using cheap men's shaving cream or no shave gel at all). While a few cents might now seem like much of a splurge, it's a splurge I've never made. However, w...

Caress asked us to review their new exfoliating bodywash, Evenly Gorgeous . I've been using it nearly every day for three weeks and have mixed feelings about it. Bad news first. I hate, hate, hate the brown sugar smell. It makes me feel like I'm washing myself in candy, but I don't care for scented things anyway. Chances are good that a Bath and Body Works junkie would go nuts for smelling like a baked good. For me, the smell is so strong I may avoid the product, and I can't imagine someone with sensitive skin like becca not breaking out from using it. On the good side, it really does exfoliate. I've been having a dry skin problem for the past six months or so, and Caress' Evenly Gorgeous made my skin soft, smooth and comfy. On the whole, I would buy this bodywash when they come out with either a clean scent or scent free version. If you're interesting in trying it, Caress has a coupon for their entire body wash and bar soap line on their website. While you...

Body wash, or even soap, is quite easy to find for a good price. Many decent body washes can be purchased for just a few dollars. And really, I've never seen a body wash over $25. Although, I can't really imagine paying $25 for body wash. I'm a bar of Dial soap girl myself so I clearly go the cheapest route with this product. I know there is something to be said for conditioning your skin (but I just lotion after the shower). I also understand the needs of sensitive skin, and a gentle body wash can cost a little more than my cheap bar of soap. I do understand spending a little extra for glowing skin, but breaking the $10 mark is just too much for me. Do you save or splurge on your body wash? Pictured: Clean On Me Shower Gel, Soap & Glory, Target $9.99

Welcome to the new FMF weekly reader poll. We're hoping to get to know a little more about you, our beloved readers, and have a little fun with fashion questions. This week the sun is shining bright here in Chicagoland. If it's anything like that where you are, no doubt you want to be outside soaking up the sun. What kind of summer skin do you have? Are you a bronze beauty or a sunscreen queen? poll by twiigs.com

I finally got down to the basement this week to dig out my sandals, which means I need to make sure my feet are sandal-ready. After a very long, very drying winter, my feet were in need of some care. On top of all the boots, socks and tights, I also go barefoot whenever possible so smoothing out my feet takes something a little stronger than foot cream. The likes of pumice stones and razors are really not my style. I don't like scraping at my feet, which is where the Sally Hansen La Cross Foot Smoothing Disc comes in. This little blue plastic disc (pictured) has rings of ridges that help slough off all those callouses. The disc is reusable and really does work. It also feels more like a massage than a surgical procedure. The disc is easy to use: 1. Soak feet in warm water for a few minutes to soften. (Standing in the shower or relaxing with a foot bath works too). 2. Using a swirling motion, rub feet with the Foot Smoothing Disk to remove rough skin and calluses. 3. Wash and dry f...